Senpai Matt grew up training in Te Awamutu but has also been a member of both Dunedin Seido under Sei Shihan Kelvin Lewis & Seido Shibu (Christchurch) under Eiko Hanshi Renzie Hanham. Senpai Matt has trained in Australia, many Seido Dojos in New Zealand & in New York under Kaicho Tadashi Nakamura in Johshin Honzan & Honbu.

In 2012, Senpai Matt graded to Shodan in Te Awamutu under Shuseki Shihan Ben Otang. In 2017, he most recently graded to Sandan (3rd Dan) in 2023 by Sei Shihan Danny Watson. While living in Wanaka for 3 years, Matt trained in Kyokushin where he graded to Green Belt under Shihan Trevor Bailey.

Senpai Matt has entered various Seido tournaments, picking up medals in semi contact sparring, points sparring and kata. He also fought in a Kyokushin full contact knockdown tournament in Dunedin in 2016.